Derek P. Linde Named President of GES as Part of Expanded Role

As part of the GES Collective, global brand experience agency Spiro™ has announced the promotion of Derek P. Linde to GES president, in addition to his existing role as Viad’s chief operating officer, effective June 3, 2024.

Steve Moster, president and chief executive officer of Viad, said, “Derek is a trusted thought leader who has demonstrated his ability to advance our strategic goals through a collaborative approach. Over the past few years, he has been instrumental in shaping and supporting important transformative actions across GES that delivered enhanced revenue growth, profitability, and cash flow, including the launch of our Spiro experiential marketing agency and various margin initiatives within GES Exhibitions. Under Derek’s leadership, the GES team will continue to build on the momentum of our successful strategies by capitalising on GES’s global strength and growth opportunities.”

Linde joined Viad as general counsel and corporate secretary in April 2018 and was promoted to chief operating officer in March 2022. In this role, Linde has helped define and drive strategic and operating initiatives that are accelerating the growth of the enterprise and positioning Viad to maximise value now and into the future. Prior to joining Viad, Linde served in various legal leadership roles at Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE: ITW) supporting enterprise transformation and business operating objectives, and as a partner at the global law firm of Winston & Strawn LLP.

"Derek has been a driving force behind our strategic goals, consistently showcasing his vision and collaborative spirit," said Jeff Stelmach, Spiro global president. "His direction was crucial in launching the Spiro experiential marketing agency. I’m excited to see Derek's impact in his expanded role, as I believe his continued leadership will be incredibly beneficial for our company's future."